مطالب

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluates the effectiveness of the public education courses (first aid and emergency preparedness) of Red Crescent Society (RCS) on attitude, knowledge, and performance of conscripted personnel of the Iranian armed forces towards first aid and facing of hazards and disasters. METHODS: In this descriptive and quasi-experimental study, a total of 680 armed forces conscripts across the country were evaluated using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Based on Cochran's formula, 340 individuals were assigned to the experimental group (trained by RCS trainers) and 340 to the control group (not trained). A researcher-made questionnaire contains two sections and main components (attitude, knowledge, and performance), was developed using the Kirkpatrick evaluation model. Its content validity (CVR=0.86) and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha=0.89) were confirmed. Data analyzed using SPSS-22 included Kolmogorov-Smirnov, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U, and chi-square tests. FINDINGS: According to the results, the RCS public education courses had a statistically significant positive effect on participants’ attitude (mean score 4.1, p<0.05), knowledge (4.0, p<0.05), and performance (3.6, p<0.05); also, total score (3.8, p<0.05) in the experimental group are lower compared to the control group (attitude 2.8, knowledge 3.7, performance 3.3, total score 3.2). CONCLUSION: The RCS public education training courses significantly improved the attitude, knowledge, and performance of conscripted armed forces personnel which these results support the continuation and potential expansion of such training initiatives to enhance military preparedness and response capability.

INTRODUCTION: Sponge city, a fundamental strategy for solving water and environmental challenges, has attracted the attention of researchers around the world in recent years. Hence, the aim of this research is to examine the sponge city as a paradigm in urban flood crisis management. METHODS: In this applied study, the research method is both descriptive and analytical. Data were collected from review articles, book chapters, grey literature, online pages, and newspaper articles. For qualitative content analysis, an inductive method was used, which combines data collection, extraction, and analysis, and gradually generates a discussion. FINDINGS: According to the findings, the sponge city model involves comprehensive improvement of urban water resources and the aquatic environment in urban areas and a way to respond to water challenges and environmental degradation, promising to resolve environmental problems, increase welfare, growth and development, and achieve sustainability in societies. It emphasizes the integration of environmental considerations into all physical structures in urban spaces with the aim of harmonizing city development with the natural environment and advancing the principle of sustainability through the alignment of human and ecological processes in urban environments. CONCLUSION: The results show that the sponge city and its principles can contribute to sustainable development in environmental, social and economic dimensions. A sponge city construction can improve the ability of cities to adapt to environmental changes and cope with floods, encouraging the development of cities towards a healthier and more sustainable direction.

INTRODUCTION: Given the increasing natural hazards, there is an increasing emphasis on innovative disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives aimed at increasing resilience and recognizing women as key stakeholders in all disaster management activities, although their role remains limited for unclear reasons. Since understanding gender issues and their impact in shaping people's lives is crucial in disaster risk reduction, this study seeks to examine the effective role of women's participation in disaster risk reduction. METHODS: In this descriptive-analytical and library study, factors such as women's empowerment, increasing participation in decision-making levels, improving access to resources and information, and changing traditional attitudes that play a role in reducing women's vulnerability were examined. The necessary data were collected by reviewing relevant parameters in reputable articles, reports and books. The statistical population includes women from disaster-prone countries such as Tamil Nadu (India), Bangladesh, Nepal, Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Ethiopia and other countries. FINDINGS: The findings indicate that women’s vulnerability to disasters is a combination of biological, social, cultural, economic and political factors, and that traditional caregiving roles, gender discrimination and inequalities in access to resources, information and decision-making increase their vulnerability. In addition, disasters impose more severe psychological, social and economic consequences on women. CONCLUSION: According to the results, due to unequal social and cultural structures, women are more vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters. Therefore, disaster management policies and actions must be gender-sensitive. Empowering women, promoting their participation in decision-making, improving their access to resources and information, and changing traditional attitudes can reduce the impact of crises on women and increase the overall resilience of society.

INTRODUCTION: Road traffic accidents are a critical global issue, especially in developing countries such as Iran. Mazandaran and Alborz provinces, due to their diverse climatic and topographic characteristics, experience a high rate of fatal accidents, especially on mountainous roads that are often affected by weather and traffic conditions. Therefore, in this study, a spatiotemporal analysis of the relationship between fatal road accidents and environmental factors was conducted to improve RCS rescue and relief operations in the two provinces of Mazandaran and Alborz. METHODS: This study analyzed fatal road accidents from March 2017 to January 2024 using data from the Red Crescent Society (RCS) and the Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization. Accident data were converted into monthly raster files via Kernel Density Estimation and examined using the Space-Time Cube model and Hot Spot Analysis in ArcGIS Pro to identify spatial-temporal accident patterns and their relation to environmental and traffic factors. FINDINGS: Four hot spots and three cold spots patterns were detected across 83 months. Rainfall and flooding significantly affected 16.04% of oscillating and sporadic hot spots. Smooth and semi-heavy traffic conditions were associated with the highest accident percentages (19.45% and 14.01%), while blocked and heavy traffic showed lower accident intensity. Major accident hotspots appeared along the Chalous and Haraz roads and in specific rural districts. Emerging hot spots revealed new risk areas, demonstrating the dynamic nature of accident patterns. CONCLUSION: The Spatio-temporal analysis highlights high-risk areas and provides important insights for improving road safety. These findings can help the Red Crescent Society optimize rescue and relief operations and inform policymakers on infrastructure and traffic management strategies to reduce casualties

INTRODUCTION: Today, natural crises have become an inseparable reality of human life, and one of the key measures to prevent the destructive consequences of natural disasters in any region is the identification and zoning of natural hazards. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify the factors affecting the occurrence and zoning of natural hazards within Mehdishahr county, Semnan province. METHODS: This research was conducted using a mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) and the status of risk and crisis management in Mehdishahr was examined. Data were collected from existing documents, interviews with key stakeholders (local officials, experts, and representatives of local communities), and analysis of statistical data related to past incidents. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, the factors under study were compared in pairs and the weight of each was calculated. FINDINGS: According to the findings, floods have the greatest impact on the riverbed and distance from it, the river parameter with 0.335 plays more than one-third of the flood risk, and land use with 0.096 has the lowest sensitivity. Also, faults with 0.370 are considered the most important and land type with 0.087 is the least important factor in causing earthquakes. Based on the results obtained from the AHP model, human factors, especially roads and paths, have the greatest impact on the occurrence of landslides, and along rivers they account for one-third of the factors affecting the occurrence of landslides. CONCLUSION: Considering the factors affecting the occurrence of natural disasters in Mehdishahr county, some preventive measures are necessary to preserve natural resources and the environment, ensure sustainable economic and social development, and reduce vulnerability, including: changing land use and respecting the privacy of rivers, preventing construction on the banks of rivers, stabilizing and stabilizing slopes, observing building regulations, and strengthening local capacities through education, empowerment, and promoting public and specialized awareness.

This research focuses on analyzing the extent of Muhammadiyah's role in translating the human rights narrative and its relationship with Sharia principles, which are the guidelines in its movement to protect vulnerable groups of victims of human rights violations in Indonesia. Through Al-Ma'un theology, Muhammadiyah has transformed the discourse of human rights within religious contexts but also in practical efforts to protect vulnerable groups of victims of structural human rights violations and victims of national strategic projects, such as in the Wadas andesite mining case, the Rempang Eco-city case, the Pakel agrarian conflict case, the Trenggalek gold mining case, and various other cases. This research seeks to answer the following questions: (1) To what extent does Muhammadiyah play a role in disseminating human rights discourse in Indonesia? (2) How can the model of protecting vulnerable communities affected by human rights violations by Muhammadiyah be a best practice for the protection of human rights and also for the movement of civil society in the Eastern States? This research employs a socio-legal approach to identify struggles in defending the rights of vulnerable groups in Indonesia. Through an examination of its organizational pronouncements, advocacy initiatives, and grassroots activities, this paper explores the extent to which Muhammadiyah actively contributes to the protection and promotion of human rights for vulnerable populations in Indonesia, highlighting both its potential and its limitations in navigating the intricate landscape of human rights within a predominantly Muslim nation. Ultimately, this research contributes to a nuanced understanding of the role of Islamic civil society organizations in shaping and implementing human rights agendas in Indonesia and beyond.